Lubricating method and apparatus therefor



Sam. 2, 1941.. w. M; zAlKowsKY 22545541 LUBRICATING METHOD AND APPARATUSTHEREFOR Filed Sept. 22; 1937 3 SheetS-Sheet 2 Patentedv Sept. 2, 1941NITED sTATEs' ,PATENT' 'OFFICE LUBnIoA'rmG ME'rHon AND'APrAaA'rU sTHEaEFoR i Wladimir M. Zaikowsky, Pasadena, Calif., as-' signor oftwenty-five per cent to Samuel MacKeown, Pasadena, Calif. i

Application September 22, 1937, Serial No. 165,112

27 Claims.

This invention relates to lubricating systems and is especiallyapplicable to the lubrication of bearing surfaces subjected tol highand/or unequally distributed pressures and to bearing surfaces which aresometimes stationary with respect to each other for' relatively longintervals w' of time, permitting .the original lubricant tobe squeezedout and the bearing surfaces to contact directly so that it isadvisable, or necessary, to provide a new film-of lubricant between thesurfaces before they are moved relative to each other. i

A broad object of the invention is to positively introduce lubricantbetween bearing surfaces over the entire contact area thereof.

ineidentally where lubricant is needed the least) furthermore thisextruded lubricant exerts a pressure on the bearing surfaces 'where thepressure is greatest and increases the clearance where the 'clearanceIwas already the greatest, thereby` i further precluding the possibilityof forcing lubriv cant between those portions of the bearing suri faceswhere the pressure is greatest and metalto-metal contact may exist. .Abarely perceptible I' initial irregularity of lubricant flow tends to'grow progressively.

As an example' of bearing surfaces under high xand/or unequal pressure,a valve used for con- Another object is to positively introduce lubri- Icant between bearing surfaces at the contact area, or areas, thereofwhere it is most needed, namely where the bearing pressures are greatestand/or the bearing surfaces are in direct contact or even "frozentogether. i

Another object is to provide simple and practicable methods andapparatus for supplying lubricant to bearings in the manner described.

Other more specific objects and features of the invention wilLappearfrom the detailed descriptrolling the flow of fiuids under highpressure,,is typic'al. Such a valve may be, either of the gate type orof the plug type, ;containing either la wedge-shaped or a conical oreylindrical plug. When any such valve is in theclosed position the linefiuid forces the gate or, plug against the casing or valve body on theoutlet side. VIn the case of a plug valve this pressure may besuflicient to force lubricantfrom the bearing surfaces on the outletside if the valve remains for a long time in the closedrposition andV itmay be impossible to turn the`valve orV it maybe the valve can be turnedonly with great difliculty and with excessive resultant wear. If ductsare provided for lubricant around both the inlet and outlet ports of theplug and if these ducts are connected to a single source of lubricantunder pressure, as has been done in the past, then the lubricant will beextruded from some ducts adjoining the inlet port and not from the ductsnear the outlet port. The pressure of the lubri- :cant extruded on thevsidefof the inlet port may `even increase the pressure between thebearing all portions of the bearing surfaces. It has been common in thepast to provide such bearing surfaces with grooves or ducts forsupplying lubricant under pressure to a number of spaced apart points onthe bearing surfaces and interconnect these grooves or ducts to a commonsource of lubricant under pressure. With' such an arrangementv lubricantis supplied under substantially equal pressure to all of the grooves orducts in the bearing surface and it isdlfliult, or impossible, toproduce the film of lubricant' between 'all portions of the'bearingsurfaces if the pressure between the surfacesat different points isun-;-

equal. Thus las the lubricant pressure is increased, lubricant isextruded -first from the grooves in the bearing surfaces where thepressure is least, or the clearance is greatest (and surfaces of theoutlet side and may make the -valve more difllcult to operate than if noattempt were made to lubricate it.

In accordance with the present invention, I V

have discovered that if lubricant under pressure is `supplied to' anumber 'of ducts' or 'grooves. 'spaced'around the valve, one at a timeand inzdependently, it is possible to provide a film-of lubricant atzsubstantially all points between the bearing surfaces and particularlybetween'those portions of the bearing surfaces exposed to the greatestpressure. To produce this result, it is r A necessary 'that thelubricating grooves be isolated from each other so that the lubricantpres- 4sure obtainable in the grooves where the bearing pressure isgreatest may not be limited by the escape of lubricant from grooveswhere the pressure is least. If approximately equal quan-` I Vtitles oflubricant are forced consecutively into A each of the grooves, then thegreatest lubricant pressure is produced in those grooves where thepressure between the bearing surfaces is greatest and the clearance isleast, the pressure in the grooves being determined by the resistance tothe extrusion of lubricant from the grooves. Since the lubricantpressure will be highest at the surfaceareas where the pressureresultlng from extemal forces is greatest the lubricant pressure willact automatically to equalize the total forces actlng upon the valveplug.

For best results and to prevent the production of excessively largepressures in any one groove, relatively small amounts of lubricantshould be forced rapidly and ccnsecutively into each of the grooves andthe process repeated until the valve is completely lubricated and canoperate properly. In this way a bearing may be properly lubricated by astandardized procedure irrespective of variously distributed clearancesor pressures between the bearing surfaces.

If sufficient clearance does not initially exist between the bearingsurfaces adjacent a groove to allow extrusion of lubricant from thegroove between the surfaces, it is possible to produce a lubricantpressure in agroove great enough to elastically deform the plug andcasing of the valve and thus allow the lubricant to spread.

Once the lubricant starts to spread from the.

groove the area over which the pressure is exerted is increased so thatthe lubricant will continue to spread as more lubricant is forced intothe groove. It is thus possible, by the concentrating of the lubricantin a groove within the area of the bearing surfaces under greatestpressure, to separate and lubricate thefbearing surfaces even when theyhave been "frozen" by corrosion, rust, etc.

The invention will now be explained by describing in detail certainvalve structures incorporating it. However, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to valves or to valves of the particulartype illustrated, but is useful in many bearings which have hithertobeen diilicult to lubricate.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a plug valveincorporating a lubricating system in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged Vertical sectional view through a portion of theplug of the valve shown in Fig. 1; the section being taken in adifferent plane from the plane of Fig. 1 to better illustrate certainlubricant passages in the plug.

Fig. 2a is a detail vertical sectional view of the lower end of thelubricant-compressing plug, the view being taken in the same plane butlooking in the opposite direction from the section of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2b is a detail sectional view similar to .that of Fig. 2a but withthe section taken in a plane displaced 90 from the plane of section ofFig. 2a.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the lubricating valve element inthe plug of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an alternative form of sleeve thatmay be employed 'in the valve mechanlsm of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the plug of Fig. 2", the sectionbeing taken in the plane V-V of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 6 is a developed view of the exterior bearing surface ofithe pluginthe valve of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a developed view of the bearing surface of the valve bodyshown in Fig.,1.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view throug a plug type valve,incorporating another embodiment of my lubricating system.

Fig. 9 is a cross section through the plug of the valve shown in Fig. 8,the view being taken approximately in the plane IX-IX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross section through the plug of the valve shown .in Fig.8, .taken approximately in the plane X-X of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a developed view of the bearing surface of the plug of thevalve shown in Fig. 8.

Referring first to Fig. 1 the valve therein disclosed comprises a valvebody having rotatably mounted therein a valve plug 2. Thus the body I isprovided with a fluid passage 3 extending longitudinally therethroughand adapted to be connected to inlet and outlet pipes. Sage 3 isintersected by a conical passage 4 extending downwardly through the topof the body I. The bearing surface of the wall of the conical passage lis fitted to seal with the juxtaposed bearing surface on the plug 2.

The plug 2 is provided with a hollow stem 5 extending upwardly asubstantial distance from the upper end of the plug proper which stem isprovided with a square or hexagonal end 6 for the reception of a wrenchused to tum the plug into open and closed position. The lower portion ofthe stem 5 is of greater diameter than the upper portion, therebydefining a shoulder 'I against which a ball bearing assembly 8 rests.

A clamping member 9 having a central opening therein for the passage ofthe stem 6 is positioned above the bearing 8 and is secured to the bodyI of the valve by bolts Ill. The bolts IO, member 9 and bearing 8maintain the plug 2 in sealing engagement with the valve body I andprevent any lifting of the plug while at the same time permittingrotation of the plug to close and open the'valve. That portion of thebody member immediately above the plug 2 is closed .by a plate I Isecured in place by nuts I2 on the bolts, I 0,

' a gasket or other suitable means being provided between the plate' IIand the top of the body I to effect a fluid-tight seal. A fluid-tightsealfis effected between the plate II and the stem 5 by packing I 3which is compressed between the stem 5 and thewall of an orificeprovided therefor in the plate II, by a gland lladapted to be tightenedby means of bolts I5 threaded into apertures in the upper face of theplate II. To equalize the pressures on the upper and lower ends of theplug 2, relief passages 52 and 54 may b`e provided, these passagesextending from the line fluid passage 4| in the plug to the lower andupper end surfaces of the plug, respectively.

The structure so far described is in accordance with prior practice, andthe lubricating lsystem of this valve, which represents my invention inconnection therewith, will now be described.

The stem 5 of the plug 2 is provided with a central cylindrical apertureIG, the wall of which is threaded through the major portion of itslength to receive a lubricant-compressing plug I'l adapted to be screwedtherein. Lubricant in the lower portion of the passage I 6 is compressedin response to downward movement of the screw plug I'l and forced to thebearing surfaces of the valve 2 and the valve body I.

Thus referring to Fig. 2, the lower vend of the threaded portion of thepassage IS terminates in a cylindrical chamber I 9 of smaller diameter.The cylindrical wall of the Chamber I9 is fitted to seal with a splitsleeve 20 (Fig. 3) positioned therein and has leading therefrom atintervals thereabout four lubricant ducts 2|, 22,

The pas-` core 26 and the stem 30 upwardly untilthe 23 and 24 (Fig.respectively. These lubricant ducts`2l, 22, zal `and 24, inclusive,extend to recesses 40 in the outer or bearing surface of the plug, thefunction of which will be described later.

The sleeve 20 fits snugly within the chamber |9 and, as shown, isdimensioned to seal oif all, or all but one, of the ducts 2|, 22, 23 and24, depending upon whether the slot 25 is juxtaposed to one of the ducts2|, 22, 23 and 24, in-

clusive, 'or is positioned in between two of said ducts. The sleeve,A inaddition to having a ground outer surface and being normally dimensionedto'fit snugly within the chamber |9, is relatively thin and elastic sovthat the pressure of lubricant within the chamber |9 tends further toexpand the sleeve outwardly against the core seats against the bushing31 and effects a seal' therewith to preventfurther escape of lubricantor fluid.

The chamber 6 may be replenished with lubricant by removing the plug |1,inserting av pellet of lubricant in chamber |6, forcing the pellet downaround the stem 30, and re-inserting the plug |1 and screwing it down.To facylindrical wall .of chamber |9 and. positively seal the ductsleading therefrom. In the valve of Fig. 1 it is intended. that the.

sleeve shall be automatically rotated in response to rotation of thelubricant-compressing plug |1 to successively periodically deliver smallquantties of lubricant to the ducts 2| 22, 23'

and 24. To this end there is fitted loosely within the sleeve-20 a core26 having a slot 21 (Fig.

3) therein, which registers with and engages an f inwardly extendingtongue 20| on the sleeve 20 so that the sleeve 20 is constrained torotate with the core 26. vCore 26 is provided at its upper end with anoutwardly extending flange portion (having slots 28a therein for thepassage of lubricant) 28 which fits loosely against the upper portion ofthe cylindrical wall of chamber |9 for free. rotation therewith-v in andlimited radial movement. The upper end of the core 26 above the fiange28 is tapered to define' a conical face 29 which terminates in acilitate entry of the end of stemi30 into the passage 32, the upper endof the stem is tapered to a point and a tapered, funnel-shaped orifice32a is provided at the lower' end of the passage 32. To facilitate entryof the key 3| into the 'keyway 33, the orifice 32a is providedwith ahelical surface 32h the pitch of which is greater Vthanrthe pitch of thescrew threads on plug |1 'duction of pellets of lubricant in view of thefact that it is' always below the open edge of the lubricant-receivingchamber |6.

The apparatus so far described constitutes a distributing system fordistributing lubricant p either successively in measured or limitedquanstem 30 extending upwardly for a substantial distance and has aradially extending key 3| adjacent its upper end. Thelubricant-compressing plug |1 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided with a centralpassage 32 adapted to receive the st'em 30, and a keyway 33 extendslongitudinally along one side of the passage 32 to receive the key 3| onstem 30 so that the stem is constrained to rotate'with the plug |1although it is free to move vertically with respect thereto. The upperend of the plug |1 is enlarged andinternally threaded at its open upperend to facilitate connection thereto of a lubricant-gun for forcinglubricant down through the passage 32 past the stem 30 into the space |6below plug |1. To prevent return of lubricant a check valve- 34 isprovided irnmediately below the .upper end of the plug |1. The upper endof plug |1 may also be provided with a pair of diametrically oppositeapertures 35 for the insertion of a han-` dle 36 whereby substantialtorque may be applied to the plug |1 to rotate it.

To normally retain the sleeve 20 and the core 26 in position within. thechamber |9, a bushing' 31 is threaded into the lower end of the threadedportion of the passage |6,. this bushing being provided with a centralaperture for receiving and rotatably supporting the stem 30 and having akeyway 38 extendng from the aperture to permit passage of lubricant andalso to permit insertion of the key 3| on stem 30 when the mechanism isassembled. The lower surface of the bushing 31 is preferably conical andground to seal with'the conical surface 29 on the upper end of core 26and prevent the return fiow of lubricant or fiuid from the chamber IS tothe chamber |6, any such reverse fiow carrying the tities'to'the variousducts 2|, 22, 23 and 24 or for delivering lubricant or grease to' oneonly of said ducts. fThus, if it is desired to successively distributemeasured quantities of lubricant to each of the ducts 2|, 22, 23 and 24,the chamber |6 is supplied with a quantity of lubricant and thislubricant then compressed'by rotating the lubri- 'cant-compressing plug|1. Rotation of plug |1 gradually moves the plug downward within thepassage |6 thereby applying pressure to the lubricant therebelow. At thesame time the sleeve 20 is rotated within the chamber |9 by the core 26and stem 30 to successively' move the slot 25 in the sleeve past theducts 2|, 22, 23 and 24, successively, and deliver lubricant to eachduct as the slot 26 passes the ducts. .By reversely rotating plug |1 theport 25 of sleeve 20 can be repeated- |ly brought into regitration withthe ducts 2|,

22,, 23 andv 24 without forcing lubricant into the chamber |9.Furthermore, chamber |9 remains isolated from the lubricant-receivingchamber |6, due to the sealing contact of the tapered surface 29 withthe cooperating surface of plug 31.

Therefore by such reverse rotation, it is possible to equalize thepressures in all the recesses 40 with the pressure .within the chamber'|9 since there are no return check valves in the ducts 2 22, 23 and za;

The chamber |6 may be filled with lubricant either by completelyremoving the plug |1, placing a pellet of lubricant within chamber |6,and

, re-inserting the plug |1-(as previouslydescribed),

' cant into one of the ducts to the exclusion of the remainder, this maybe done by rotating the plug I'l into such position as to aline the slot25 in sleeve 20 with the desired duct 2|, 22, 23 or 24 (cooperatingindlcating marks being provided on the plug I'l and stem to enable theoperator to effect alinement) and then forcing lubricant into andthrough the chamber IE from a gun connected to the upper end of plug |1,all of the lubricant passing through passage IS and then being deliveredto the one particular duct in registration with the slot 25 in sleeve20. This permits selective application of lubricant to any one of theducts in any desired quantity without waste of lubricant in the otherducts.

Referring now to Figs, 5 and 6, each of the ducts 2|, 22, 23 and 24terminates at its outer end in a recess 40 in the bearing face of theplug, these recesses 40 being of relatively limited area and positionedat circumferentially spaced points around the plug 2 at a level Vabovethe port or passage 4|, which extends through the plug and functions toconduct fiuid through the valve when the latter is in open position.

Referring now to Fig. 7, the wall 42 of the conical opening 4 in thevalve body for receiving the plug 2, is provided with four verticallyextending shallow grooves 43 positioned adjacent the opening of thefluid passage 3 extending through the body. These grooves 43 extendabove and below the 'upper and lower edges, respectively, of the passage3 and extend high enough to register with the recesses 40 in the plugWhen the plug is in any one of four positions of rotation. To open orclose a plug valve of the type disclosed, the plug is rotated 90. It maybe always rotated in the same direction or it may be reciprocated backand forth through 90 to open and close the valve. In either event therecesses 40 are so oriented that when the plug is either in fully openor fully closed position, the recesses 40 register with the grooves 43.Therefore, when lubricant is supplied under pressure through any one ofthe four ducts 2|, 22, 23 and 24, the lubricant is positively forcedinto one, and one only, of the four grooves 43, thereby insuring thatsuflicient lubricant pressure is developed in each groove to force thelubricant out of the groove between adjacent bearing surfaces of thevalve body and the plug to free the plug and permit free rotationthereof.

It is often desirable to provide for additional lubrication of the plugand body bearing surfaces above and below the grooves 43. To this end Imay provide a continuous circumferential groove 44 around the wall 42above the upper ends of the Vertical grooves 43 and a lowercircumferential groove 45 positioned below the lower ends of theVertical grooves 43. These grooves 44 and 45 are supplied with lubricantthrough ports 45 and 41, respectively, in the plug 2, which ports arevertically positioned to register with the grooves 44 and 45. The ports46 and 41 are interconnected with each 'other by a duct 48 extendingthrough the plug 2 and, as shown in the drawing, are connected to thechamber |9 6,- at a point therein above the sleeve by a duet 49. Thegrooves 44 and 45 are therefore permanently in connection with thechamber 19 and whenever lubricant in chamber |9 is under-4 pressure,lubricant will be forced to the grooves 70 44 and 45. Ordinarily verylittle lubricant will escape from the grooves 44 and 45 because they arepositioned in the relatively rigid portions of the plug 2 above andbelow the passage 4| therein so that the pressure required to diifuse 75lubricant over the surfaces adjacent the vertical grooves 43 is lessthan that required to diffuse appreciable amounts of lubricant over thesurfaces of adjacent grooves'44 and 45. However, a positive supply oflubricant to the grooves 44 and 45 is insured by virtue of the fact thatWith the slot -of sleeve 20 made narrower than the circumferentialspacing between the ducts 2|, 22, 23 and 24, as shown, during eachcomplete rotation of the sleeve 20 there are four intervals when theslot 25 is out of registration with any one of the ducts 2|, 22, 23 and24. Therefore when the sleeve 20 is in those positions the only passagefor escape of compressed lubricant in the chamber |9 is through theducts 49 and 48 to the ports 46 and 41 and the grooves 44 and 45.

It is to be understood, however, that the passage 49 may enter thechamber |9 at a point within the Vertical limits of the sleeve 20 sothat it is closed by the sleeve except when the slot 25 in the latter isjuxtaposed thereto. If this is done, the ports in the chamber |9 shouldbe so spaced relative to the width of the slot 25 that the latter is incommunication withat least one port in any position of the plug I'l soas to avoid creation of excessive lubricant pressures in chamber IB asplug |1 is screwedrdown.

With the construction described, in which the lubricant pressure may beconfined to any one of the Vertical grooves 43, the pressure of thelubricant in such Vertical groove may, if desired, be made suflicientlygreat to actually deform the plug and/or the valve body to cause aseparation of the adjacent surfaces and permit extrusion of thelubricant therebetween. This, Would be impossible with the conventionalcenstruction'in which lubricant is supplied simultaneously to all of thegrooves because the lubricant would escape through the groove in thesurfaces where the pressure was least, making it impossible to build upthe pressure in the groove at the frozen surfaces sufli-cient toseparate the latter.

It Will be observed that the grooves 43 are spaced circumferentially asufficient distance from the edges of the openings 3 in the body memberand the recesses are of such limited dimensions circumfercntially that.the recesses 40 are cut oif from the grooves 43 before the plug `hasbeen rotated (during opening or ,closing movement of the valve)sufllciently to bring any of the grooves 43 into juxtaposed relationwith the openings 4| or recesses 50 in the plug, thereby preventingwaste of lubricant' through the ducts 2| 22, 23 and 24, when grooves 43are exposed to line fiuid.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide shallow recesses inthe valve body and plug surfaces between the line fluid passagestherein, the recesses in the plug being juxtaposed to the fluid passagein the body and the recesses in the body being juxtaposed to the portsin the plug when the valve is closed. When the valve is open, therecesses in the plug o and body. respectively, are juxtaposed to eachother.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the recesses in the plug are indicated at 50 and inFig. 7 the recesses in the body 'are indicated at 5|. By providing theserecesses 50 and 5| I have reduced the bearing surfaces to that portionwhich is useful for sealing the valve and preventing leakage. Theserecesses 50 and 5| are especially desirable when the line fluid iscorrosive or contains grit or sand into a cylindrical passage 63 at wend of the body. Positionea within the comcai of the wall of the bodymember I which are opposite the ends of the port 4| in the plug when thevalve is closed are subject to corrosion due to the line fluidtrapped inthe plug passage.

When these surfaces are lcorroded they cease to aid-in the sealihg ofthe valve and only increase the' friction to rotation of the valve. Ifthe line fluid contains grit or other abrasive material, the recesses inthe walls of the plug and casing serve as traps for abrasive materialand prevent wear. `If these recesses 50 and 5| were not provided, thenwhen the valve was in closed position the lubricant on the walls of theplug opposite the ports of the casing or' body, aswell as the lubric'anton the walls of the casing opposite the ports of the plug, would becontaminated with grit or any abrasive-materials in the line fluid.vThis abrasive material imbedded in the lubricant causes vexcessive wearand shortens the life of the valve. Provision of recesses 50 and 5|,respectively, on the surfac'es of the plug and body of the valve leadsto a rapid loss of lubricant from-the grooves 43 in the intermediateplug position due. to the rush of line fluid. The lubricating devicedescribed. permits assured replenishment of said grooves with lubricantin fully open 'and fully closed valve position. However, such recesses50 and 5| 'are optional, and the method of lubrication described isuseful whether or not said recesses 50 and 5| are provided.

As previously described with reference to Fig. 3, the sleeve 20 isprovided with a tongue 20| for engagement with the slot 21 in' the core26, which tongue 20| is shown positioned opposite the slot 25 in thesleeve. An alternative construction for the sleeve is shown in Fig. 4 inwhich the sleeve 20', instead of being provided with a tongue oppositethe slot 25' has the edges of the sleeve along the slot 25' turnedinwardly to constitute two inwardly directed spaced apart tongues 20l',which tongue are adapted to engage the recess 21 in the core 26. It hasbeen previously stated that lubricant pressure within the chamber |9tends to expand the sleeve 20 `tightly against the cylindrical wall ofchamber |9 so that there is substantial frictional resistance torotation of the sleeve. When the rotating force is applied to the tonge20| positioned opposite the slot 25, onepassage 62 and intersecting thefluid-passage 6| I is a conical plug 64 which plug has on` its upper enda stem 65 having a cylindrical portion fitted snugly Within thecylindrical passage 63 in the valve body and Vhaving a square 'orhexagonal outer end portion66 projeoting beyond the body 60 forreceiving a wrench used to turn the plug into open or closedpo-sition.'The lower end of the conical passage 62 of the valve body 60 is closedby a closure member or cover 61 secured in place by `bolts 68 and sealedwith the body by suitable gaskets 69. This cover member 61 con- -tains acylindrical central recess 10 in which is slidably mounted a pin 1 I,the upper end of which is provided with a ball seat 12 and a ball 13 ispositioned between the seat 12 and a cooperating seat 14 inthe plug 64.An adjusting bolt 15 is provided in the cover member 61 below the pin'1| for vertically adjusting the lattento retain the plug 64 in sealingengagement with the wall of the conical passage of the body 60 in whichthe plug is positioned. When a suitable adjustment is obtained the bolt15 is locked against further movement by a locknut 16. The space Withinthe cover 61, being sealed from the exterior,` a bleeder passage 11 maybe provided in the plug extending from the port 18 in the plug to thelower face or end of the plug, thereby preventing the creation ofipressures below thel plug greater than those existing in the line inwhich the valve is connected.

For the purpose of lubricating the valve structure shown in Figs. 8 to11, the stem 65 extending from the plug 64 upwardly out of the body 60is counterbored from the top for a substantial distance to receive arotatable shaft or hollow sleeve 80 having a lubricant passage 8|extending downwardly therethrough from the upper end to a point adjacentthe bottom where it communlcates with a transverse passage 82 extendingout of the side of the sleeve 80. The lower end of the sleeve 80 is ofreduced external diameter and is ground to fit accurately within abushing 83 positioned in the lower endv of the counterbore in the stem65. The lower end of -drawings to firmly anchor the bushing 83 infiuidhalf of the sleeve 20 is incompression, which tends to furtherincrease the bearing pressure between that half of the sleeve and 'thechamber |9,:

thereby furtherincreasing the resistance to rotation of the sleeve. Withthe construction shown in Fig. 4, however, 'in which the rotary forceapplied by the core 26to the sleeve '20' is always applied to one of thetongues 20|', the entire sleeve is in tension rather than compression,tending to contract the sleeve rather4 than expand it, and therebytending to reduce' the frictional resistance to rotation.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11, a plug valve of slightlydifierent construction and a modifi'ed form of Iubricant-aistnnutmgmechanism is disclosed. The valve comprises a body 60 having alongitudinal fluid passage 6| extending therethrough and adapted to beconnected at its opposite ends to two pipes. The body 60 is providedwith a transverse conicai passage 62 .extending from the lower endalmost, but not body and merging tight relation in the counterbore, thebushing being retained in place by. a screw 8ll. .The sleeve 80 ismaintained in fixed Vertical position with respect to the sleeve 83.Thus it is provided with a lower shoulder 85 which rests upon the topedge of the bushing 83 andis provided with an upper shoulder 86 which isflush with a shoulder 81 in the stem. 65. A washer 88 and packing 88aare compressed against the shoulders 86 and 81 by a packing gland 89thereby not only retaining the sleeve 804m lowermost position I with itsshoulder 85 resting on the top of the' v bushing 83 but also eifecting aself-closing fluiddially extending hollow arm 92 having a passage 93therein'in communication with the passage tight seal between the upperend of the stem and the sleeve.

.Attached to the upper end of the sleeve as by scr'ew-threads and alockpin 9|, isa ra- 8| in sleeve 80. A ball check valve 94 is preferablyinserted between the vpassages 8| and 83 to prevent escape of fiuid fromthe valve out..-

through those passages. The passage* 83 merges into a relatively largethreaded passage 95 containing a lubricant-compressing plug 96.

The bushing 83 (Fig. 9), is provided with four ports 91, 98, 99 and |00,positioned at 90 intervals thereabout at the level of the transversepassage 82 in sleeve 80 so that by rotating sleeve 80 the passage 82 maybe brought into registration with any one of the ports 91, 98, 99 and|00. The latter ports connect with passages (Eig. 10), |02, I 03, and104, respectively, in the plug' 64, which passages extend to recesses05. 108, |0`| and l08, respectively positioned at .circumferentiallyspaced points in the upper end of the bearing surface of the plug 94above the fluid passage 18 therein. Therefore by rotating the arm 92 andthe sleeve 80 into a position to register the passage 82 in sleeve 80with any one of the ports 91, 98, 99 or |00, and then screwing in thelubrcant-compressing plug 99, lubricant may be selectively forced underhigh pressure to any one of the recesses |05, |08, |01 or |08 in theupper bearing surface of the plug 94.

I preferably provide check valves |09, at the outer ends of the ports91, 98, 99 and |00, respectively, for preventing return fiow of fluidthrough those passages. These check valves |09 preclude equalization ofpressures in the ducts |04, l 05, |06 and |0'l by repeated registrythrough port 82 with chamber 8|, which is possible in the constructionpreviously described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, where no checkvalves are shown in passages 2|, 22, 23 and 2|.

In the valve shown in F'igs. 8, 9, 10 and 11, there are no lubricantgrooves in the bearing surface of the valve body, all of thelubricantdistributing grooves being in the bearing surface of the plugand these grooves being out of direct communication with the recessesl05 to |08, in-

clusive, to which lubricant is delivered. However, at least a portion ofeach of the lubricantdistributing grooves is positioned adjacent atleast one of the adjacent ports, and in 'turn is supplied with lubricantfrom the adjacent recess by seepage of the lubricant past the bearingsurfaces separating the recess from the groove.

Thus referring to Fig. 11, the plug is provided with an upper lubricantgroove I |0 andaplurality of vertically extending grooves I l the upperend of each of which divides into two grooves ||2 and ll3, respectivelyextending adjacent and below the associated recess |05, 108, |0'l or|08. ,I prefer to also provide a set of recesses H, IIS, IIS and Illadjacent the lower end of the bearing surface of the plug .and below therecesses |05, 108, |0l and |08, respectively, each of these lowerrecesses being directly connected by a duct to the recess directlythereabov at the top of the plug. Thus the recess |05 is connected tothe recess IH by a duct H8. The recess ||5 is connected to the recessl08 by a duct ||9; the recess U8 is connected to the recess |9'l by aduct 120; and the recess Ill is connected to the recess |08 by duct |2|.

The lower end of each of the Vertical grooves I H also merges into twobranches |22, |23, respectively, extending above and adjacent one of thelower recesses Ill, U5, ||9 or ll'l, and a lower lubricant groove |2| isprovided extending circumferentially about the plug below the re-'cesses Ill to IH, inclusive.

In the operation of the valve shown in Figs. 8 to 11, the space 95 inarm 92 is filled with lubricant as by removing the plug 99, placing apellet of lubricant in passage 95, and re-inserting plug 99. The arm 92is then rotated to bring the port 82 into registration with one of thepassages 91 to |00, inclusive, and lubricant forced through that portand through the associated passages to the recesses and IH, or |09 andll5, or |0'l and HS, or |08 and Il'l, as the case may be. Sumcientpressure may' readily be applied to the lubricant to cause it toslightly separate the Juxtaposed bearing surfaces surrounding therecesses and permit seepage of the lubricant past those bearing surfacesinto the grooves HO, ll2, ll3, |2l, |22, |23. The lubricant movesreadily through the grooves, filllng them and then spreading from theedges of the grooves over the adjacent portions of the bearing surfacesof the plug and valve body. Lubricant may be distributed to each of thefour sets of recesses in tum by rotating the arm 92 into the necessarypositions. In order to facilitate orientation of the passage 82 with theports 91, 98, 99 and |00, the upper end of the valve stem 90 may beprovided with suitable indicating marks and the arm 82 may be providedwith a cooperating indicator |3I.

It often happens in plug valves of the type referred to that the bearingsurfaces will be in metal-to-metal contact, or be frozen together byrust or corrosion at only one circumferential point. This may be readilydetermined when lubricating the valve as described with reference toFigs. 8 to 11. When the arm 92 is in position to supply lubricant torecesses adjacent bearing surfaces having clearance therebetween verylittle resistance to the fiow of lubricant is encountered and thelubricant-compresslng plug 96 will turn easily,- thereby indicating tothe operator that the bearing surfaces at that point on the plug arefree. However, when the arm 92 is turned into a position to register thepassage 82 with the port connected to recesses in a portion of thebearing surface which is frozen, the resistance to rotation of the plug99 will be much greater. The operator is therefore immedi-ately informedas to which portion of the bearing surfaces require lubricant and he canproduce as great a pressure as is needed to separate and lubricate thefrozen portion of the bearing surface without wasting lubricant byextrusion past the portions of the bearing surfaces which are alreadyfree. The device shown in Fig. 8 may be operated manually to repeatedlyforce approximately equally small portions of lubricant into each of theducts |0I, |02, III and |04. Thus by successively rotating the screw 96through a predetermined angle with respect to the member 92, thenswinging the member 92 through 90 repeatedly, the operator may feedsuccessively and repeatedly small portions of lubricant into each of theducts |0|--|0|, and do it with a frequency sufficiently fast toadequately release the plug, irrespective of on which side of the plugthe pressure between the plug and seat is relatively small or large. Thearrangement also permits of turning the screw 98 to compress thelubricant without disturbing registration of the port 92 with any one ofthe ducts |0|-|04. However, the rapid successive feeding of lubricant tosuccesslve ducts Ill-Ill is greatly facilitated by the fact that forcerejuired to rotate both the screw 98 in the member 92 and to swing themember 92 to rotate the member 90, may be applied to the single element99.

An advantage of the construction depicted particularly in Fig. 11, inwhich the recesses |05 to |08 and IM to Ill, inclusive, are notconnected directly to the various lubricant grooves 2,254`,841 -n theface of the plug, is that regardless of the I position of the plugbetween fully opened and fully closed positions, pressure of the linefiuid is never applied directly to the lubricant in said recesses. i

It is to be understood that although in both of the valves shown in theldrawings provision has been made for distributing lubricantindependently to four circumferentially spaced apart areas on the plug,this number maybe increased'or decreased as necessary or desirable. Ingeneral,

,I have found that at least four separate sets of grooves to whichlubricant may be independently distributed is desirable and that thisnumber usuallysuffices for small and medium sized valves. It is to beunderstood,V however, that in case of large valves or bearings `it maybe be lubricated, one of said members having a plurality of ductstherein extending to different spaced apart points on said bearingsurface, a

w single means for supplying lubricant under pres- .sure to' said .ductsone at a time, and means responsive to mechanical rotation of saidsingle means for sealing those ducts to which lubricant advantageous toindependently distribute lubricant to five, six, or even a greaternumber of separate sets of grooves.

It is to be understood that although for purposesl of illustrating vtheinvention it has been described in detail as Vapplied to valves of theplug type, that the invention is not limited to lubrication of thebearing surfacesof plug valves, but is applicable to any and all bearingstructures where the same problems exist, namely,

that of supplying lubricant to 'all portions of the bearing surfacesirrespective of different bearing pressures thereover, and of releasingand lubricating the bearing surfaces that may be frozen or stuck over aportion .or all of their area. The invention is, therefore', vto belimited only. to the extent set forthin the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination, a 'pair of relatively movplurality of ducts thereinextending to' different spaced apart points on said bearing surface, areservoir for lubricant in communication with said ducts, means movablein said reservoir for forcing lubricant therefrom into said ducts, andmeans responsive tofmovement of said lubricant forcing means forsuccessively closing. diflerent ducts, whereby lubricant may be at lanygiven instant forced into less than a'll of said ducts.

3. In combination, a pair of relatlvely movable is not being supplied.

6. In combination, a pair of relatively movable ,membershavingcooperating bearing surfaces to vbe Iubricated, rotatable means having acommon lubricant passage therein mounted on one .of

said members, said member having a plurality oflubr'icant ducts thereinadapted to be selectively communicated with said common passage oneA ata time in different positions of rotation of said rotatable means, saidducts Vextending to Adifferent spaced apart. points on said bearingsurfaces, ,and means for feeding lubricant under v pressure through saidcommon passage inde-.

pendentlyof the position of said rotary member, each of saidspaced-apart points remaining within the contact areas of saidmemberssin Vall relative positions thereof and being isolated from eachother =by unrecessed portions of` said surfaces in at least two'terminalrest positions of said members.

'7. The' combination as defined in claim 6, in which said means forfeeding lubricant under pressure through said common passage ccmprisesan arm secured to and extending` at an angle from said rotatable meansexterior of said one bearing member, and means movable with respectvtosaid arm for forcing lubricant under pressure through said arm and saidrotatable means to members having cooperating bearing surfaces to belubricated, one of said members having a plurality of ducts thereinextending to different spaced' apart.V points. on said bearing surface,a

reservoir Vfor lubricant, a =cylindricalchamber .o

for forcing lubricant into said Chamber, a split sleeve in said chambersealing with the cylindrical wall thereof and adapted to simultaneouslycover and close a portion of said ducts, means for rotating said sleevein response to rotation of said lubricant-forcing means, wherebydifferent ducts are successively communicated with said common passage.f

8. A valve comprising a pair of relatively movable members havingcooperating contact surfaces fitted together to effect a fluid-tightseal therebetween in which one atleast of said c'on- -tact surfaces hasa plurality of separate spaced apart recesses therein isolated one fromanother, and means for expelling lubricant under pressure from saidreccsses between the adjacent contact-surfaces, one at a time; in at.least two terminal rest positions of said members.

9. A valve comprising a body member and a plug member rotatable therein,said vmembers having coo-perating sealing surfaces, said body memberhaving a passage intersecting the sealing surface thereof, said plugmember having a fluid passage'therein adapted to register with the fluidpassage in said body member when the valve is in open position, the plugpresenting an imperforate surface 'to said passage in the body `memberwhen the valve-is in closed position, a

circumferential groove 'in the sealing surface of one of said membersspaced longitudinally from, `the fiuid passage therein, longitudinalgrooves in Vteringwith said circumferential groove in all positions ofsaid valves, other ductsvin said other member registering with saidlongitudinal grooves in predetermined relative positions of saidmembers, means for suppiying lubricant untervals between application oflubricant to saidA first mentioned ducts. g

11. In combination, a pair of relatively movable members havingcooperating bearing surfaces in which one at least of said bearingsurfaces has an isolated recess therein for receiving and distributinglubricant, a second recess in one of said bearing surfaces separatedfrom said first recess by portions of the cooperating bearing surfacesof the members, and means for supplying lubricant under pressure to saidsecond recess whereby said lubricant is extruded ibetween said bearingsurfaces into said first recess and then e'xtruded from all margins ofthe first recess to the adjacent bearing surfaces.

12. In combination, a pair of relatively mov- 'able members havingcooperating bearing surfaces, in which one at least of said bearingsurfaces has a plurality of spaced apart isolated recesses therein forreceiving and distributing lubricant, and an additional recess separatedfrom said first recesses by portions of the cooperating bearing surfacesof the members, and means for supplying lubricant under pressure to saidadditional recess whereby it is extruded between said bearing surfacesinto said first recesses and then extruded from all margins of saidfirst recesses adjacent the bearing surfaces.

13. A valve comprising a body member and a plug member rotatabletherein, said members having cooperating ports therein and cooperatingsealing surfaces surrounding said ports, a lubricant groove extendingcircumferentially in the sealing sur-face of one member at a pointbeyond the port therein, a second lubricant groove isolated from saidfirst groove and extending longitudinally adJacent to the port in thatmember, a recess in the surface of said member positioned between saidgrooves. but separated therefrom by sealing surfaces of said member, andmeans for supplying lubricant under pressure to said recess.

14. In combination, a pair of relatively movable members havingcooperating bearing 'surfaces to be lubricated, said members defining aplurality of spaced apart recesses included within the boundary of thebearing surfaces and also deflning a continuous recess spaced-apart fromsaid plurality of recesses and extending along the boundary of saidsurfaces and in closer proximity to said boundary than said plurality ofrecesses, means for feeding lubricant under pressure to said pluralityof recesses repeatedly in predetermined relative amounts. whereby saidlubricant enters between spaced-apart regions of said surfaces, saidcontinuous recess trapping lubricant which moves through saidspacedapart regions consecutively to said boundary.

15. A lubricated tapered plug valve comprising a body member and a plugmember having cooperating tapered bearing surfaces and means for urgingsaid plug member into seating rela- 4 tion with said body member, inwhich said members define a lubricant recess symmetrically disposedaround the axis of the plug, and a plurality of lubricant recesses, eachasy'mmetrical with respect to the axis of the plug, and means'forfeeding lubricant under pressure to said symmetrical recess andconsecutively to each of said asymmetrical recesses, whereby forces indifferent radia] directions may be consecutively applied between saidmembers.

16. A lubricated plug valve including a body member and a plug memberhaving cooperating bearing surfaces, in which said members define atleast three separated lubricant cavities substantially uniformly spacedaround the axis of the plug and each completely surrounded by matingsurfaces of the plug and body members at least when the valve is in twooperative rest positions, and means for successively feeding lubricantunder pressure to said separated cavities at least when said valve is intwo operative rest positions, whereby distribution of lubricant betweenthe bearing surfaces on both sides of any plane through the axis of theplug is insured.

17. A valve comprising a body member having a line fluid passage and aclosure member movable with respect to said body member to control linefluid flow through said passage, said members having cooperating bearingsurfaces, and means for positively feeding lubricant to each of aplurality of spaced apart points on said bearing surfaces inpredetermined relative amounts.

18. In a lubricated plug valve, a body member and a plug member havingcooperating mating surfaces, said members deflning a recess extendingcircumferentially and a recess extending longitudinally in said matingsurfaces, said recesses being isolated from each other when the valve isin closed position, and means for supplying lubricant under pressure toeach of said recesses separately from a common source, at least in saidclosed position.

19. A lubricated plug valve comprising a body member and a plug memberhaving cooperating sealing surfaces and having cooperating line fluldpassages extending through each member lto the sealing surface thereon,said members deflning separate lubricant recesses positioned on oppositeside of one of the fluid passages in said body member when the valve isin closed position, said recesses beingisolated from each other bymating portions of the sealing surfaces of said members. and means forforcing lubricant into each of said recesses separately in said closedposition, whereby lubricant is positively supplied to both of the saidrecesses and positively extruded between the sealing surfaces onopposite sides of said one body passage.

20. A valve comprising a body member having a plug cavity therein'and aplug rotatable in the plug cavity, said body member having a fluidVpassage extending from the plug cavity and said plug having a portextending therethrough registering with said body passage when the valveis in open position of rest, the plug blocking said fluid passagein thebody member and the body member blocking said fluid passage in the plugwhen the valve is in closed position of rest; in which the surface ofsaid plug registering with said body passage and the surface of saidbody member registering with said plug passage when the valve is inclosed position, are recesesd, said recesses and said Doris beingseparated from each other by cooperating mating surfaces on said plugand body members, said sealing surface on either said body member orsaid plub containing a plurality of longitudinal groves, each positionedbetween one of said ports and one of said recesses, and being completelysurounded by mating surfaces of said plug and body when the valve is insaid positions of rest` and means for forcing lubricant into' saidgroovesoone at a time, whereby lubricant is positively supplied to theseaiing surfaces adjacent each groove irrespective of diiferences in theresistances to lubricant fiow from different grooves, when said valve isin one of said rest positions.

21. A valve comprising a body member and a plug member rotatabietherein, said members having cooperating ports therein and cooperatingseaiing surfaces surrounding said ports, a firt lubricant recess in thesealing surface of one member at a point beyond the port-swept area ofsaid members, a second lubricant recess in one of said members isolatedfrom said first recess by a portion of the sealing surface, andextending into the port-swept area of said members, and means forforcing lubricant to said first recess, whereby said lubricant isextruded between said sealing surfaces from said first recess to saidsecond recess, and then extruded from the margins of the second recessto the adjacent sealing surfaces.

22. The method of lubricating a pair of relatively rotatable membershaving cooperating bearing surfaces, said method comprising positivelyforcing a viscous lubricant between said bearing surfaces at each ofthree or more points thereon substantially uniformiy spaced about theaxis of rotation, whereby supply of lubricant between said bearingsurfaces on both sides of any diametrical and axial plane is insured.

23. In combination, a pair of reiatively movable members havingcooperating bearing surfaces to be lubricated in a plurality ofdifferent stop positions and means for forcing lubricant to a pluralityof different points on said bearing surfaces at independent pressureswhile said members are in at least two successive ones of said stoppositions, each of said points being surrounded and separated from theother point by mating portions of said bearing surfaces when saidmembers are in said two successive stop positions.

24. In combination, a pair of relatively rotat- 25. In combination, apair of re1ativeiy.rotat-- able members having cooperating bearingsurfaces and means for forcing lubricant between said bearing surfaoesat a plurality of ciroum-- ferentially spaced, isolated points thereonone at a time, said points being separated from each other and from themargins of the bearing surfaces by mating portions of said bearingsurfaces in all positions of reiative rotation of said members.

26. In combination, a pair of relatively movable members havingcooperating bearing surfaces and means foi` positively feeding lubricantto each of a plurality of spaced-apart points on said bearing surfacesin predetermined relative amounts. w

27. In combination, a pair of relatively rotatable members havingcooperating bearing surfaces to be lubricated, and means for positivelyforcing lubricant between mating portions of said bearing surfacessurrounding each of three or more points thereon substantially uniformlyspaced about the axis of rotation, whereby distribution of lubricantbetween the bearing surfaces on both sides of-any plane through the axisof the plug is insured.

